JB Hi-Fi No Longer Selling 3G Version Of The PlayStation Vita

We've just gotten confirmation from JB Hi-Fi that the retailer will no longer be taking pre-orders for, or selling, the 3G version of the PlayStation Vita and is limiting its stock to the Wi-Fi version of the console only.

Consumers who had already pre-ordered through JB Hi-Fi's online store have now received emails stating the following:

Hi Guys,

We have just been advised that ‘PLAYSTATION VITA CONSOLE (3G/WIFI) [PRE ORDER BONUS HEADPHONES + DLC]’ is no longer available for order through the JB Hifi Online Store.

Unfortunately, we have now been forced to cancel this item from your order, or cancel the order if it was a single item order (this may take up to 24 hours to update in your order history).

However, you can still order the Wifi Version. I have included a link below for your perusal.

"As Telstra dealers we have an agreement to not stock Vodafone products in our stores," said an official spokesperson from JB Hi-Fi.

The 3G version of the PlayStation Vita comes packaged with a Vodafone SIM card, but the console isn't tied to one specific network. Users can just as easily use another SIM card with the PlayStation Vita.

"We've decided to just keep it simple," said the JB Hi-Fi rep, when we informed him of this."This is actually the first call we've had about the decision, so we don't think it'll make too much of an impact."

IThe 3G version of the PlayStation Vita has already drew the ire of some consumers for being overpriced when compared to the regular Wi-fi version. JB Hifi has a lion's share of the games market in Australia, so this may contribute to the Wi-Fi version of the PS Vita being the most popular choice when the handheld is released on February 23.

"The 3G version of the PlayStation Vita comes packaged with a Vodafone SIM card, but the console isn’t tied to one specific network. Users can just as easily use another SIM card with the PlayStation Vita."

If you raised your hand you can lower it now, now google "*your model phone* wifi hotspot". With Wifi hotspot enabled, your Wifi Vita will now be able to connect to the internet via your phone and your existing phone data plan (Which is probably more than adequate). For this very reason, and so I don't have to buy a seperate 3G data plan, I'll be getting the wifi only Vita.

How is it expensive? There is no cost at all as long as your carrier doens't charge for HotSpot and you have enough data usage. I have an iPhone 4 and use this feature all the time. Barely uses any battery power to run it. I have 1gb per month data usage which I never use. So if I get a Vita I will do all heavy downloading on home wi-fi and just use the hotspot feature of my iPhone when I need to get internet to the Vita on the go.

True and I know they are different products, but there is only one thing that is different between JB selling the 3G Vita and 3G iPads.

Both are unlocked, it's just the Vita has a sim card in the box and the choice of words used by the spokesmen, "agreement to not stock Vodafone products in our stores", that's been really picky, because last time I checked I was buying a Sony product first and foremost.

As the Vita isn't locked, surprised they aren't using as a chance to 'upsell' Telstra plans instead, with a special Vita rate that undercuts whatever the Vodafone plans are.

My mate's with Vodaphone and has the absolute worst 3G connection. We compared download speeds by downloading a small app, Optus took 20 seconds and Vodaphone took literally 10 minutes. The preorder cancelling is disappointing, the partnership with Vodaphone is even more disappointing.

I beg to differ. I've just given up on Optus and gone with Vodafone, my reception is a hell of a lot better. I commute for my studies and on a uni day I end up traveling close to 3 hours per day, with Optus I had reception for maybe half an hour of that, with Vodafone I have reception close to 2 hours. It's far from perfect but for me Vodafone is a hell of a lot better.

But I have NO desire to use the Vodafone 3G sim card included...no siree I will head straight to a Telstra Shop and be grapping a Telstra Sim Card...I am locked into a Vodafone contract with my iPhone and I absolutely freaking HATE Vodafone...its the worst service I have ever endured

Otherwise I would gladly have went a WiFi model and just tethered my Phone to it...But no, I am not doing that, I will pay the extra for 3G and grab a Telstra Sim Card and be happy that way

JB's agreement with Vodafone must be worth a pretty penny in order for JB to forsake selling a model of a new product, regardless of how many people we think will or won't buy it. Money talks, bullshit walks.

When they announced vodafone was the preferred partner, i assumed it meant it would get sold at vodafone stores, rather than having it bundled with the vodafone sim, so it could be sold anywhere and consumers could freely pick and choose carriers. Vodafone must have paid a bloody truckload to be 'preferred partner'.

You people don't seem to read the latest news. I knew 3 weeks ago JB Hi-Fi would not be selling the 3G variant, as JB have an exclusive Telstra contract and cannot sell Vodafone products. Naturally the packaging of these will have the Vodafone logo on them, which also breaks JB's agreement. Now if the PS VIta was sold with no Vodafone branding externally (on packaging) this may differ, but other than this if you want 3G no point seeing JB.

i wqas with voda for 2 years live in Sydney. Holly crap, they are CRAP !!! worst phone service ever and traveling on the train to work, hardly ever had reception and almost no 3g. moved to TPG/Optus....hundred times cheaper and faster. i would go to Telstra but im a tight ass.

You might want to rethink getting just the wifi version. Seriously, I bought the wifi and found out that the "NEAR" function and google maps didn't work because the wifi version does NOT have the GPS function built in. It tries to approximate your location via your IP address but it really doesn't work. It kept telling me it couldn't obtain location data.

Who knows what functions they'll come out with for 3G. I wouldn't want to be left out. Plus there are games that have location specific functions and the wifi won't be able to do it. There IS NO GPS function built into the WIFI.

I've ditched my Vodafone sim and bought an Optus sim card for $30 bucks and got the $130 plan for 15GB for 12 months. I found this site looking for why I can't log into the playstation network with the Optus sim card. I'm not sure if I did something wrong or if Sony's making it hard to use other cards because they are in bed with Vodafone. They said that "they could no guarantee the quality if you use another service". But it's not locked? Hmmmm.... something's not right. I bought a mobile broadband sim for my iPad2 from Optus and it worked right away.

I love Vita though! The cross game party chat is AWESOME and I just love the personal feeling of a portable unit and being in contact with my REAL gamer friends!

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